Examples include roof and wall cladding systems

To be a minor variation your roof or wall cladding system change must:
  1. Be using equivalent cladding weight category.
  2. Not reduce exterior surface finishes requirements for control of external fire spread.
  3. Use a comparable construction method (e.g. no change from being over drainage cavity or direct fixed).
  4. Be either:
    • within the scope of an acceptable solution for E2, or
    • within the scope of a current product certification (Codemark), or
    • within the scope of a current appraisal from a recognised body (e.g. BRANZ).

Examples include underlays and coating system

To be a minor variation your cladding component change must be compatible with the cladding system.

  • For underlays it must be compatible with the cladding material and have the same or better performance as per table 23, E2/AS1. 
  • For coating systems it is approved for use on the substrate and does not reduce exterior surface finishes requirements for control of external fire spread.


Examples include manufactured beams and joists, steel structural fixings, change to short pile type (e.g. anchor pile for braced pile).

To be a minor variation your structural element change must:
  • Be within scope of acceptable solution, or
  • Have a comparable performance demonstrated from proprietary tables, or
  • Be a substitution covered by design engineer undertaking construction monitoring that does not require new structural calculations.

Examples include plasterboard, fibre cement and plywood linings.

To be a minor variation your internal linings change must:
  • Be a comparable construction method.
  • Where part of bracing element be compatible with a tested system with the same or better performance.
  • Where part of a fire resistance rating system be compatible with a tested system with the same or better performance


Examples include wall and ceiling coating systems, flooring surfaces.

To be a minor variation your interior surface finishes change must:
  • Be in a household unit or outbuilding, or
  • If in other buildings, it has the same Material Group Number for walls and ceilings or minimum critical radiant flux for floor surface materials.
  • Where floor surfaces are required to have a slip resistance have the same or better performance.

Examples include blanket or segment non-rigid insulation, loose-fill insulation (blown in) and rigid sheet insulation.
  • To be a minor variation your insulation product change must have:
  • The same or better R-value.A comparable installation method.

Examples include glazing, barriers, warning systems, emergency lighting, signs, sanitary fixtures and heating appliances (solid and liquid fueled). 


To be a minor variation if your fixtures change is for glazing, barriers, warning systems, emergency lighting or signs it must:

  • Not be more than a minor change to a specified system, and
  • Be within scope of an acceptable solution, or
  • Have comparable performance demonstrated from proprietary tables, or
  • Be a substitution covered by design engineer undertaking construction monitoring that does not require new calculations.
To be a minor variation if your fixtures product change is for sanitary fixtures it must:
  • Be a comparable type (no increase in discharge units).
  • Have a comparable installation method.

To be a minor variation if your fixtures product change is for a heating appliance (solid or liquid fueled) it must have:
  • A comparable installation method (example: no change from being freestanding or inbuilt).
  • Include the relevant installation instructions that have been tested and approved.

Examples include change room layout or move position of sanitary fixtures.

To be a minor variation your minor plan change to internal walls layout must:
  • Not  change the building's footprint.
  • Not alter load paths through building.

Examples include move position of window, door or meter board, move a bracing element or change floor level relative to the datum.

To be a minor variation if your minor plan change to elevation layout is to move a window position or bracing element it must:
  • Not alter load paths through building.
  • Not reduce capacity of bracing element.
  • Have no district plan rule implications.
To be a minor variation if your minor plan change to elevation layout is to change floor level relative to the datum it must:
  • Not reduce the minimum floor level below what is needed to comply with the building code or district plan rules.
  • Have no other district plan rule implications.

Examples include variation to setbacks from boundaries.

To be a minor variation, your variation to change the position of a building on a site must:
  • Be a minor change relative to setback dimensions. 
  • Not require reassessing of external fire spread to relevant boundaries. Have no district plan rule implications.

Examples include changes to lintel/beam connection, foundation footing, framing dimension and/or centres.

To be a minor variation your minor detail change to the structure must be:
  • Within scope of an acceptable solution, or
  • A minor change covered by the design engineer undertaking construction monitoring that does not require new structural calculations.

Examples include a change to a flashing detail.

To be a minor variation your minor detail change to weathertightness must be:
  • Within the scope of an acceptable solution, or
  • Easily demonstrable as having comparable performance.

Examples include a change to a handrail, stair layout or threshold detail.

To be a minor variation your minor detail change to an access feature must be:

  • Within the scope of an acceptable solution, or
  • Easily demonstrable as having comparable performance.


Examples include a change to the drainage or sanitary plumbing layout.


To be a minor variation your minor detail change to drainage must:

  • Not be a change to the type of system, and
  • Be within the scope of an acceptable solution, or
  • Be easily demonstrable as having comparable performance.


Examples include removing a detached outbuilding or ancillary building from scope of work, a change to the make and model of solid or liquid fuel heater.

To be a minor variation if your administrative change to the description of building work shown on the building consent is a reduction in scope it must:
  • Not affect the design of other buildings.
To be a minor variation if your administrative change to the description of building work shown on the building consent is a change to make and model of solid or liquid fuel heater it must:
  • Have a comparable installation method (e.g. no change from being freestanding or inbuilt).
  • Include the relevant installation instructions that have been tested and approved.

Examples include a change to the nominated consultant providing construction monitoring for emergency lighting, lifts and mechanical ventilation system.

To be a minor variation your administrative change to the design consultant of 'design and build' building systems must have:
  • No change to the approved design philosophy.